Integrated memory circuit arrangement

ABSTRACT

A memory circuit arrangement includes a switching element per column that can be used to connect or disconnect two bit lines for memory cells of a column. The switching element leads to a reduction of the chip area and/or to an improvement in the electronic properties of the memory circuit arrangement.

PRIORITY AND CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of International Application No.PCT/EP2004/050356 filed Mar. 24, 2004, which claims priority to Germanapplication 103 23 244.3, filed May 22, 2003, both of which areincorporated in their entirety by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a memory circuit arrangement, and inparticularly to a memory arrangement having a switching element forconnection of bit lines for memory cells.

2. Description of the Related Art

Memory cells of a memory circuit are arranged in rows and columns or inmatrix-type fashion. Each memory cell has a transistor that may have afloating gate. Word lines and bit lines are transversely arranged wherethe word lines are electrically connected to control electrodes (alsoreferred to as the gate) of the transistors of a row. The bit lines areconnected to terminal electrodes of the transistors of a column. Theterminal electrodes are formed, for example, by doped regions in asubstrate, and may be referred to as a drain and a source for fieldeffect transistors.

The memory cells may store content in such a way that the content iserased when an operating voltage is switched off. Alternatively, thememory cells may retain their content when the operating voltage isswitched off. In this context, reference is made to memory cells thateffect volatile storage and memory cells that effect nonvolatilestorage, respectively.

Each column of memory cells is connected to two bit lines, namely to adrain line and a source line. The source line is utilized for memorycells of two adjacent columns. The floating gate transistor has afloating gate, or memory gate, that is an electrode insulated on allsides. Insofar as the term column is used hereinafter, itdesignates—unless differentiated more precisely—the memory cells of acolumn of the entire memory arrangement. The memory cells have highpower consumption and may assume a large chip area. The memoryarrangements may also have a complex architectures where two metallicbit lines, namely a metallic source line and a metallic bit line, are ineach case required per column.

Accordingly, there is a need to provide a memory circuit of simpleconstruction having improved electronic properties and which uses asmall chip area and low power consumption. It is desirable for thememory circuit arrangement to make it possible to maintain previouspotential conditions or to utilize other potential conditions fordifferent operating modes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a memory circuit arrangement havingmultiple memory cells arranged in rows and columns in a matrix-typefashion where each memory cell has at least one transistor, such as afloating gate transistor. Word lines are electrically conductivelyconnected to control electrodes, or the gate, of the transistors ofmemory cells of a row of the matrix and bit lines are connected toterminal electrodes of the transistors of memory cells of a column ofthe matrix. The memory cell may be configured to provide volatilestorage or nonvolatile storage.

In one aspect, the memory circuit arrangement includes, per column ofmemory cells, at least one switching element that enables the connectionand disconnection of an electrically conductive connection of two bitlines of the same column of the matrix. In a first operating mode of thecircuit arrangement, the two bit lines carry the same potential and areelectrically conductively connected with the aid of the switchingelement. In second operating mode of the circuit arrangement, differentpotentials may be present on the two bit lines, and the bit lines aredisconnected from one another with the aid of the switching element. Inthe first operating mode, the potential of one bit line can thus also beapplied to the other bit line by means of a simple circuitry measure. Apotential that is present on the connected bit line in other operatingmodes is then turned off, for example for all the memory cells of thecircuit arrangement or for a portion of the memory cells of the circuitarrangement. By way of example, the potential is turned off for all thememory cells of the memory or for only for the memory cells of a memorysegment in which the affected column is situated. In both cases, atransistor can be used for disconnection.

The switching element provides degrees of freedom that permit newoperating modes of the memory circuit arrangement. By way of example, itis possible to carry the same potential on the disconnected voltage feedin a plurality or even in all of the operating modes. The switchingpower required for changing the potential becomes lower.

In an embodiment, one bit line that is electrically conductivelyconnected to the switching element is arranged in a doped region of asubstrate, such as a silicon substrate. By contrast, the other bit linewhich is electrically conductively connected to the switching element isa bit line of metal layer or is a bit line having metal. The dopedregion is arranged, for example, between two isolation trenches forisolating the memory cells of mutually adjacent columns. As analternative, the doped region can be arranged in such an isolationtrench. The metal line has a smaller resistance in comparison with adoped region, so that leading the operating voltage as far as theswitching element is associated with a comparatively small voltage dropand power loss. It is only at the switching element that the dopedregion is connected in. If the length of the doped region is adapted tothe conductivity thereof, then voltage drops or losses with regard tothe writing, reading or erasing times are acceptable in comparison withthe exclusive connection of bit lines made of metal. If a bit linecomprises metal, then the disadvantages associated with the use of dopedregions with regard to the specific conductivity and a voltage dropassociated therewith do not occur at least with regard to these bitlines. Moreover, what can be achieved by using a plurality of switchingelements per column or by skillful arrangement of the switching elementor of the switching elements, for example on half the length of the twobit lines, is that the disadvantages associated with the doped region donot substantially impair the operation of the circuit arrangement.

In a next embodiment, the bit lines are local bit lines that can beelectrically conductively connected to global bit lines via furtherswitching elements. The local bit lines define a memory segment byvirtue of the fact that they are connected only to a portion of thecells of a column of the memory circuit arrangement. The circuitarrangement contains at least two memory segments. The use of memorysegments affords the possibility of driving the memory circuitarrangement in a similar manner to a magnetic storage disk that likewisecontains segments. Moreover, what is achieved by the use of local andglobal bit lines is that the global bit lines can be arranged in uppermetallization layers and, by way of example, have a larger cross-sectionthan the local bit lines or the distance with respect to one another isincreased. The former reduces the bit line resistance (R) and the latterreduces the capacitive load (C) of the bit lines. As a result, the RCdelay due to the global bit lines is shorter and the access times of thecircuit arrangement are improved. The use of memory segmentsadditionally affords the simple possibility of limiting the length ofthe local bit lines, in particular of the local bit lines routed indoped regions.

In another embodiment, the number of global bit lines in the circuitarrangement is half as large as the number of metallic local bit lines.If source lines in different columns of a memory segment have to carrypotentials that are different from one another in one operating mode andif drain lines have to carry potentials that are different from oneanother in one operating mode, without the use of the switchingelements, more global bit lines than in accordance with the developmentare necessary even in the case of double utilization of global lines fortwo local lines.

In another embodiment, the switching element is arranged at an end of arow of memory cells of a column of a memory segment. Alternatively or inaddition, the switching element is arranged between the memory cells ofa column of a memory segment, preferably in the center of the column, inorder to feed a current into two equal length sections of the bit linesarranged in a doped region. The voltage drop across the bit line in thedoped region can thus be reduced further in a simple way.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to a memory circuitarrangement having at least one further switching element per columnthat enables the production and the disconnection of an electricallyconductive connection of a collective line running in the row directionto a respective bit line. The development is based on the considerationthat a local production and disconnection of the connection to thecollective line is associated with a low power demand in comparison witha segment-related or global production and disconnection of a connectionto the collective line. Moreover, operating modes are possible withpotential conditions which would require additional lines in the columndirection without the invention according to the second aspect.

In particular, a combination of the two circuit arrangements accordingto the invention leads to a circuit arrangement of simple constructionwhich has particularly good electrical properties, for example, withregard to the power consumption. Moreover, operating modes are againmade possible with potential conditions which would require additionallines in the column direction without the combination. Furthermore, therequired chip area is small on account of the combination.

In one embodiment, the circuit arrangement contains a control unit,which drives the switching elements for connecting two bit linesalternately to the switching elements for connecting the collective lineto the bit line. The alternate driving ensures that no potentialconflicts occur on a bit line.

In another embodiment, for a column, the switching element forconnecting the two bit lines is adjacent to the switching element forconnecting a bit line to the collective line. As an alternative, the twoswitching elements are arranged at different locations, in particular atdifferent ends of the column.

In a next embodiment the circuit arrangement contains a drive circuitconstructed in such a way that a memory cell transistor is programmedand/or erased with a uniform channel (UCP Uniform Channel Programming),so that the tunnel oxide is stressed uniformly. The advantages obtainedby means of the switching elements are particularly great in particularwith this type of programming.

In another embodiment, the bit lines of a column of memory cells arearranged such that they overlap one another in the direction normal to asubstrate main area. In this case, a substrate main area is an areahaving an area content with respect to other areas, e.g. with respect toedge areas, that is greater than the area content of these areas. Thatis, the bit lines are arranged such that the two bit lines lie one abovethe other if the substrate main area lies in the horizontal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates voltage conditions at memory cells duringprogramming, erasing and reading.

FIG. 2 illustrates a circuit diagram of a memory cell array.

FIG. 3 illustrates a circuit diagram of a column of the memory cellarray.

FIG. 4 illustrates the layout of a memory circuit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Identical, functionally identical, or similar elements and signals arereferred to with the same reference symbols in the figures unless statedotherwise.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of voltage conditions at memorycells during programming, during erasing and during reading of memorycells of a circuit arrangement explained in greater detail below withreference to FIGS. 2 to 4. The voltage values cited in connection withFIG. 1 are only examples and may be chosen deviating within wide limitsfrom the voltage values cited, e.g. deviating by plus or minus 50% or30% of the respective voltage value. Operating modes with fundamentallydifferent voltage values can also be realized. In the explanation ofFIG. 1, reference is made to memory transistors T11 to T22, thearrangement of which in a memory cell array is explained in more detailbelow with reference to FIG. 2. The memory transistor T11 is chosen byway of example for explaining the operating modes. It goes withoutsaying that further transistors can be written to, erased or read in thesame way.

During programming, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a voltage of +14 Volts isapplied to a gate electrode 12 of the memory transistor T11. Duringprogramming a voltage of −3 Volts in each case is present at a sourceregion 14, a drain region 18 and at a substrate region 16 of the memorytransistor T11. On account of these voltage conditions, a tunnelingcurrent flows from an inversion channel in the substrate 16 over thewhole area through a tunnel oxide into the all-around insulatedelectrode 20 of the transistor T11.

During programming, the following voltages are present at transistors inthe same row as the memory transistor T11 but in a different column,e.g. at the transistor T21:

-   -   +14 Volts at a gate electrode 22,    -   +3 Volts at a source region 24 and at a substrate region 26, and    -   +3 Volts at a drain region 28 of the transistor T21.

The following potentials are present at transistors in the same columnas the transistor T11 but in a different row of the memory cell array,e.g. at the transistor T12:

-   -   0 Volts or −3 Volts at a gate electrode 32,    -   3 Volts at a source region 34 and at a substrate region 36, and    -   3 Volts at a source region 38 of the transistor T12.

The following voltages are present at transistors in different rows andin different columns than the transistor T11, e.g. at the transistorT22:

-   -   0 Volts at a gate electrode 42,    -   +3 Volts at a source region 44 and at a substrate region 46, and    -   +3 Volts at a drain region 48.

During erasure, all the memory transistors of a memory segment areerased simultaneously so that the same potential conditions exist at allthe memory transistors T11 to T22. FIG. 1 illustrates the erasureoperation for the memory transistor T11 as representative of all thememory transistors T11 to T22. During erasure the following voltages arepresent at the transistor T11:

-   -   −14 Volts at the gate electrode 12,    -   +3 Volts at the source region 14 and at the substrate region 16,        and    -   +3 Volts at the drain region 18.

The following potentials are present when reading the memory state ofthe memory transistor T11:

-   -   +2.5 Volts at the gate electrode 12,    -   0 Volts at the source region 14 and at the substrate region 16,        and    -   1 Volt at the drain region 18.

FIG. 2 shows a circuit diagram of a memory circuit 50, which contains,inter alia, a cell array subdivided into a plurality of memory segments60, 62. The memory segments 60, 62 are constructed substantiallyidentically, so that only the construction of the memory segment 60 isexplained below. The memory segment 60 may include multiple memorytransistors T11 to Tmn, where m designates the number of columns and ndesignates the number of rows in a memory segment. Each memory cell ofthe memory cell array comprises a memory transistor, e.g. the transistorT11. The memory cells of the memory segment are arranged in matrix-typefashion. The gate electrodes of the memory transistors T11, T21 of a roware connected to a word line WL1. The gate electrodes of the memorytransistors T12, T22 to T2 m are connected to a word line WL2. Likewise,for example a further 14 word lines of the memory segment 60 are in eachcase connected to the gate electrodes of the memory transistors of arow.

The memory transistors T11 to Tmn of a memory segment 60 are allconstructed substantially identically. Therefore, reference is made tothe explanations concerning FIG. 1 for the memory transistor T11.

Drain regions of memory transistors of a column of the memory segment 60are connected to a local bit line, e.g. the drain regions (D) of thememory transistors T11 and T12 are connected to a local bit line BL1. Alocal bit line BL2 is connected to the drain regions (D) of thetransistors of the second column, in particular to the drain regions (D)of the memory transistors T21 and T22. Further memory cells 70 of thememory segment 60 are indicated by dots. By way of example, the memorysegment 60 contains 1024 columns.

The source regions (S) and also the substrate regions of the memorytransistors of a column are in each case connected via a doped well W1,W2 to Wm. Isolation trenches in each case lie between the wells W1, W2,etc. A well W1, W2 is formed for example by a p-doped layer and anunderlying n-doped layer. The contact-connection of the source regions(S) of the memory transistors T11 to T22 to a well W1, W2 is producedfor example by means of a siliciding and a contact region doped into thewell, see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,438,030 B1, which is incorporated byreference in its entirety herein.

Moreover, global drain lines run via all the memory segments 60, 62 inthe column direction, of which two global drain lines GDL1 and GDL2 areillustrated in FIG. 2. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, a globaldrain line is utilized for two local bit lines of a memory segment 60,62 with the aid of selection transistors. Selection transistors forconnecting the local bit lines BL1 and BL2 to the global drain linesGDL1 and GDL2 are not illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 shows a circuit diagram of the first column of the memory segment60. The other columns of the memory segment 60 are constructed like thefirst column and are therefore not explained in any further detail. Inaddition to the elements already explained with reference to FIG. 2, thefirst column of the memory segment 60 contains two configurationtransistors TS1 a and TS1 b. The operating path of the configurationtransistor TS1 a lies between the well W1 and the local bit line BL1,that is to say source at the well W1 and drain at the local bit lineBL1. The control electrode of the configuration transistor TS1 a isconnected to a control line SLa, which is also connected to the controlelectrodes of the configuration transistors TS2 a, TS3 a, etc. of theother columns of the memory segment 60.

The configuration transistor TS1 b lies at the lower end of the firstcolumn. Its operating path lies between the well W1 and a ground line Mcarrying a ground reference or a potential of 0 Volts. The controlelectrode of the configuration transistor TS1 b is connected to acontrol line SLb, to which the control electrodes of the other lowerconfiguration transistors TS2 b, TS3 b etc. of the memory segment 60 arealso connected.

In another exemplary embodiment, the configuration transistor TS1 a liesbetween two circuit points 80, 82 at the lower end of the well W1 and atthe lower end of the local bit line BL1. In a further exemplaryembodiment, the configuration transistor TS1 a lies between the eighthand ninth memory cells of the first column of the memory segment 60.

In addition to the configuration transistors TS1 a and TS1 b, for thefirst column of the memory segment 60 there is also a selectiontransistor (not illustrated) for connecting the local bit line BL1 tothe global drain line GDL1. However, this selection transistor is notillustrated in FIG. 3.

During the operation of the circuit arrangement 50, the configurationtransistors TS1 a and TS1 b are alternately driven. That is theconfiguration transistors TS1 a and TS1 b are driven so that in eachcase one configuration transistor turns off and the other configurationtransistor turns on. If the configuration transistor TS1 a turns on,then the bit line BL1 is connected to the well W1. The well W1 and thusalso the source line of the first column carry the potential of the bitline BL1. If the transistor TS1 a turns on, then the transistor TS1 bisolates the well W1 and the source line from the ground line M. If, bycontrast, the configuration transistor TS1 b turns on, then the groundpotential is applied to the well W1 and the source line. If theconfiguration transistor TS1 b turns on, the configuration transistorTS1 a is turned off, so that no potential conflict occurs between thepotential of the well W1 and the potential on the bit line BL1.

The configuration transistor TS1 a is in the on state in the case ofwriting to a memory cell of the first column of the memory segment 60 orto some other memory cell of the memory segment 60. The transistor TS1 ais additionally in the on state if a memory cell in the memory segment60 that is not arranged in the first column is being read.

The configuration transistor TS1 b is in the on state if a memory cellof the first column of the memory segment 60 is being read. Theconfiguration transistor TS1 a is in the on state in the case oferasure.

FIG. 4 shows the layout of part of the circuit arrangement 50. Themeaning of the reference symbols has already been explained above withreference to FIGS. 1 to 3. Trenches G0 to Gm were introduced into asubstrate and filled with an insulating material, such as silicondioxide. The insulating wells W1, W2, etc. were produced between thetrenches G0, G1, G2, etc. or before the production of the trenches G0,G1, G2, etc. By way of example, an n-doped layer was introduced in alightly p-doped substrate and a p-doped layer was introduced above that.FIG. 4 does not illustrate the wells W1, W2, etc. since they are coveredby the active areas of the transistors which are situated at thesubstrate surface.

The memory transistors T11 to T22 or Tmn of the memory cell array have alayout such as has also been used hitherto. Therefore, this layout isnot illustrated completely in FIG. 4, but rather is only indicated bytwo break lines 100.

In the first metallization layer, the local bit lines BL1, BL2, etc. runin the vertical direction over the cell array. These bit lines end atthe drain contact of the transistor T1 n, T2 n, etc., that is to say atthe drain contact of the last transistor of a column. Also situated inthe first metallization plane is the ground line M, which runs in thehorizontal direction in FIG. 4, that is to say at right angles to thelocal bit lines BL1, BL2, etc.

The local bit lines BL1, BL2, etc. are connected via contacts K1 to thedrain regions of the configuration transistors TS1 a, TS1 b, etc.Moreover, the bit lines BL1, BL2 are connected to the drain regions ofthe memory transistors of the memory cell array. The ground line M isconnected via contacts K3 to the source region of the configurationtransistor TS1 b, TS2 b, etc.

In the second metallization plane, the global drain or bit lines GDL1,GDL2, etc. run in the vertical direction. As already mentioned, theglobal drain lines GDL1, GDL2 are connected to the respective local bitline BL1, BL2, etc. via selection transistors that are not illustrated.

Proceeding from the active source regions of the memory transistors T11to Tmn, there are in each case contact-connections to the wells W0, W1,etc.; see for example the contact-connection K2 of the memory transistorT11 and the contact-connection 80 of the memory transistor T1 n in thefirst column. The contact-connections K2 and 80 are also depicted inFIG. 3.

The potentials when programming the memory transistor T11 are specifiedbelow:

-   -   −3 Volts on the bit line BL1,    -   +3 Volts on the bit line BL2,    -   +2.5 Volts on the control line SLa,    -   +14 Volts on the selected word line (here WL1),    -   0 or −3 Volts on the nonselected word lines (not illustrated),    -   −3 Volts on the control line SLb, and thus    -   −3 Volts at the well W0 and +3 Volts at the well W1.

Consequently, what is achieved by using the configuration transistors isthat adjacent wells W0 and W1 are at different potentials. Additionalvertical lines for the application of the potentials in addition to thelocal bit lines BL1, BL2 are not necessary, with the result that only asmall chip area is required for the circuit arrangement 50.

The following potentials are applied when reading T11:

-   -   +1 volt on the local bit line BL1,    -   0 Volts on the local bit line BL2,    -   0 Volts on the control line SLa,    -   +2.5 Volts on the word line WL1,    -   0 Volts on the nonselected word lines (not illustrated),    -   +2.5 Volts on the control line SLb, and thus    -   0 Volts in each case at the wells W0 and W1.

The use of the configuration transistors makes it possible, in the readoperating mode, to connect the well W1 and the bit line BL1 to differentpotentials, and the well W2 and the bit line BL2 to identicalpotentials. This is possible even though the configuration transistorsTS1 a, TS2 a, etc. are driven via a common control line SLa and theconfiguration transistors TS1 b, TS2 b, etc. are driven via a commoncontrol line SLb.

In another exemplary embodiment, a local bit line BL1 is optionallycontact-connected to the underlying well via at least two configurationtransistors TS1 a. In addition or as an alternative, there are multipleground lines M for each sector, so that each well can becontact-connected with the aid of at least two configuration transistorsTS1 b. By virtue of this measure, a fast read access is possible andonly comparatively small voltage drops arise along the wells and hencethe source lines.

The circuit arrangement explained makes it possible to obtain thesmallest possible offset between adjacent bit lines BL1, BL2. Only asingle metallic bit line may be provided per column.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment, adjacent bit lines are notbrought as close as the minimum possible offset, because the metallicbit lines are made wider or because the capacitances between adjacentbit lines are intended to be reduced on account of an increase in thedistance between these bit lines. Improved electronic properties of thememory circuit thus result instead of an area saving. A compromisebetween reducing the chip area and improving the electrical propertiesis also obtained in another exemplary embodiment. By reducing the numberof metal lines, moreover, the susceptibility to defects is reduced inproduction and so a higher yield is achieved in the production of thecircuit arrangement 50.

However, the invention is not restricted to the memory circuitarrangement explained. Thus, by way of example, the concept can bemodified through the use of configuration transistors such thatprogramming is still effected using the CHE principle (Channel HotElectrons) and erasure is effected by means of a tunneling current.However, a tunneling current that is distributed uniformly over thetunnel oxide between floating gate and substrate is used for erasure,thus resulting in less damage to the tunnel oxide than is the case withthe previously used tunneling current in only a partial region of thetunnel oxide. Further applications of the concept according to theinvention relate in particular to reducing the power consumption of thememory circuit.

In particular, the invention can also be used when only bit lines indoped regions are used, or when bit lines are routed in isolationtrenches.

1. An integrated memory circuit arrangement comprising: a plurality ofmemory cells arranged in a matrix where the memory cells are arranged inof rows and columms, each memory cell including at least one transistor;word lines coupled to control electrodes of the transistors of memorycells of a row of the matrix; bit lines coupled to electrodes of thetransistors of memory cells of a column of the matrix; at least oneswitching element per column enabling production and disconnection of anelectrically conductive connection of two bit lines of a common column;and a collective line in the row direction of the matrix where at leastone further switching element per column enables the production anddisconnection of an electrically conductive connection of the collectiveline to a respective bit line, the collective line having the samepotential in all of the operating modes.
 2. The circuit arrangement ofclaim 1, where the bit lines of a column comprises: a first bit lineelectrically conductively connected to a switching element, the firstbit line being arranged in a doped region of a semiconductor substrate;and a second bit line electrically conductively connected to theswitching element, the second bit line comprising a metallic line. 3.The circuit arrangement of claim 1, where the circuit arrangementincludes at least two memory segments each defined by local bit linesconfigured to be electrically conductively connected to global bit linesvia switching elements.
 4. The circuit arrangement of claim 3, where thenumber of global bit lines is half the number of metallic local bitlines.
 5. The circuit arrangement of claim 3, where the switchingelement per column enabling production and disconnection of anelectrically conductive connection of two bit lines of a common columnis arranged at an end of the memory cells of a column of a memorysegment.
 6. The circuit arrangement of claim 3, where the switchingelement per column enabling production and disconnection of anelectrically conductive connection of two bit lines of a common columnis arranged between the memory cells of a column of a memory segment. 7.The circuit arrangement of claim 6, where the switching element percolumn enabling production and disconnection of an electricallyconductive connection of two bit lines of a common column is arrangedbetween the memory cells of a column of a memory segment towards thecenter of a column.
 8. An integrated memory circuit arrangement,comprising: a plurality of memory cells arranged in matrix-type fashion,the memory cells each containing at least one transistor; word lines atthe control electrodes of the transistors of memory cells of a row ofthe matrix; bit lines at terminal electrodes of the transistors ofmemory cells of a column of the matrix; and a collective line in the rowdirection of the matrix, at least one switching element per columnenabling the production and disconnection of an electrically conductiveconnection of the collective line to a respective bit line, where thecollective line carries the same potential in all of the operatingmodes.
 9. The circuit arrangement of claim 8, comprising a control unitconfigured to drive switching elements connecting two bit linesalternately to at least one switching element per column enabling theproduction and disconnection of an electrically conductive connection ofthe collective line to a respective bit line.
 10. The circuitarrangement of claim 9, where the switching elements connecting two bitlines and the at least one switching element for a column of memorycells of a memory segment are adjacent to one another.
 11. The circuitarrangement of claim 9, where the switching elements connecting two bitlines and the at least one switching element for a column of memorycells of a memory segment are not adjacent to one another at differentends of the column.
 12. The circuit arrangement of claim 9, where eachmemory cell includes a single floating gate transistor, and a drivecircuit is configured to program and erase the floating gate transistoris programmed with a uniform channel using a tunneling current, andwhere the switching elements connecting two bit lines and the at leastone switching element for a column of memory cells of a memory segmentare field effect transistors, the switching elements connecting two bitlines being electrically conductively connected to a first commoncontrol line, the at least one switching element for a column of memorycells of a memory segment control elements for connecting the collectiveline to the bit lines being electrically conductively connected to asecond common control line, where the circuit arrangement includesmultiplexers for the selection of word lines and bit lines, and wherethe switching elements connecting two bit lines and the at least oneswitching element for a column of memory cells of a memory segmentswitching elements do not have a data storage function.
 13. The circuitarrangement of claim 9, where each memory cell includes a singlefloating gate transistor, and a drive circuit is configured to programand erase the floating gate transistor is programmed with a uniformchannel using a tunneling current, and where the switching elements areanalog switches which preferably contain a PMOS transistor connected inparallel with an NMOS transistor, the switching elements connecting twobit lines being electrically conductively connected to a first commoncontrol line, the at least one switching element for a column of memorycells of a memory segment control elements for connecting the collectiveline to the bit lines being electrically conductively connected to asecond common control line, where the circuit arrangement includesmultiplexers for the selection of word lines and bit lines, and wherethe switching elements connecting two bit lines and the at least oneswitching element for a column of memory cells of a memory segmentswitching elements do not have a data storage function.
 14. The circuitarrangement of claim 13, where local bit lines of a column are arrangedsuch that they overlap one another in the direction of the normal to asubstrate main area.
 15. An electronic memory arrangement having memorycells arranged in rows and columns, the row being defined by word linesand the columns being defined by bit lines, the electronic memoryarrangement comprising: bit line switching means for switching anelectrical connection between two bit lines of a column of the memoryarrangement. reference switching means for switching at least one bitline of a column to a reference potential, the reference potential beingcommon for all of the operating modes of the memory circuit.
 16. Theelectronic memory arrangement of claim 15 further comprising controlmeans for alternately switching the bit line switching means and thereference switching means.
 17. The electronic memory arrangement ofclaim 16 where the reference potential is a ground reference.
 18. Amethod for controlling data in an electronic memory arrangement havingmemory cells arranged in rows and columns, the row being defined by wordlines and the columns being defined by bit lines, the method comprising:switching an electrical connection between two bit lines of a column ofthe memory arrangement. switching at least one bit line of a column to areference potential, the reference potential being common for all of theoperating modes of the memory circuit.
 19. The method of claim 18further comprising alternately switching the connection between the twobit lines and the switching at least one bit line of a column to areference potential.
 20. The electronic memory arrangement of claim 19where the reference potential is a ground reference.